Heavy rotation for Sharks

With the heavy workload suffered by the Sharks and Springbok front-row, director of rugby Jake White has opted for rotation.

Following their month long break from Super Rugby, the Sharks enter the final phase of the tournament with an away game against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

They face their remaining two pool games with the clear understanding that two wins will assure them of a top two finish ahead of the Finals Series.

With the heavy workload suffered by the Sharks and Springbok front-row, Director of Rugby Jake White has opted for rotation, with Dale Chadwick, Kyle Cooper and Lourens Adriaanse starting this match.

Anton Bresler makes a welcome return to action and has been named alongside new-Bok Stefan Lewies in the second-row while Jean Deysel takes over the captaincy armband.

Tim Swiel has been named to start at fly-half with Frans Steyn reverting to centre, partnering S'bura Sithole in the midfield.

The bench, loaded with six Springboks, should provide plenty of firepower in the latter stages of this vital clash. Thomas du Toit, back from an outstanding campaign for the SA U20 side, has earned a call-up to the senior side, having featured in the Vodacom Cup for the Sharks XV earlier this season.

"The Cheetahs at home are a strong side, you can see that from their record," explains Jake White.

"The Cheetahs have earned the scalps of the Bulls, Stormers and Brumbies at home this season and would love to finish their pool commitments with a flourish.

"They have knocked over some good sides at home and despite all the Springbok players they have from the weekend, it's not really about the players they have in their roster, they're simply a good team. We just need to make sure we prepare ourselves properly."

Looking inward at his own team's performances away from home this year, they had a highly successful overseas tour which resulted in three wins in New Zealand and Australia and a defeat of the Lions at Ellis Park.

"We have a good away record, probably better than our home record this year strangely enough, although it's not something we are really concentrating on or giving too much attention to. We just want to make sure we win."